Game Of The Week:

GLENDALE — The following are previews of the area’s upcoming high school football games.

Perhaps even more than its three wins to open the season, the Glendale High football team’s 18-3 loss to Muir on Friday, which remained competitive into the fourth quarter, served as an eye-opener for other teams around the Pacific League that the Nitros’ improvement is genuine.

Coach Jon Dimalante, whose Arcadia squad welcomes Glendale for a 7 p.m. league showdown on Friday, has certainly taken notice.

“I think they’ve made a real strong improvement,” said Dimalante, whose Apaches (2-2, 1-0 in league) blanked the Nitros, 45-0, last season, en route to finishing in a runner-up tie behind Muir in league. “The coaches over there are doing a real nice job, the kids are playing real hard, they’re doing a lot of good things on offense, defense and in the kicking game.

“I’ve been really impressed with them on film.”

After the Nitros proved their defensive mettle last week in holding the speedy Mustangs under 20 points, it’s seems that they are better equipped to contain the Apaches’ offense than they were in last year’s meeting.

Glendale was able to twice stop the Mustangs from scoring on fourth-and-goal situations on Friday and defensive back Joey Miranda highlighted a strong effort by the secondary with a pair of interceptions.

But if Glendale (3-1, 0-1) can’t find a way to capitalize on its own red-zone opportunities more effectively than it did against Muir, the rematch with Arcadia may well be another shutout.

“We couldn’t get over the hump [offensively against Muir], there’s no question about it,” said second-year Glendale Coach Rafik Thorossian, whose offense had moderate success moving the ball into Muir territory, but once there was beset by missteps, including a pair of interceptions in or near the end zone and a missed field goal. “Some of it was the interceptions thrown by our quarterback [Moises Chavez], but honestly, it wasn’t his fault.

“The linemen need to block for him and our receivers waiting for the ball need to jump up and fight for the ball. We’ve gotta stop making those little mistakes and we should be fine.”

On Friday, Glendale finished with just 131 yards of total offense and came well short of its season average of 42.6 points per game entering the contest.